i've searched here and howstuffworks.com and can't find my answer. the question:

how do you run ice water through a liquid-to-air IC?

i know turbotrix's evo has a "JAZ cell" that does it, but all i can find on-line about JAZ cells is how they're fuel cells.

can you buy something that cools the water by itself, or can you only buy something to hold/pump the water, forcing you to put ice in it everyday to cool the water?

if there's a link somewhere to this answer, just post it.

thanks!

 

In a liquid to air IC setup that is street driven there needs to be a heat exchanger to keep the water cool. Something like a small radiator or an oil cooler will work for this as long as it is placed where it can get direct airflow. Another way around this is to run a lot of water in the system to so the water doesn't heat up as quickly.

To use ice in the system for the most cooling power it has to be added EVERY time you run the car. The fuel cell they use is just a reservoir to hold the extra water for the system. I am sure they drain most of the water and fill it with ice for every pass down the track. I am willing to bet the car has been tuned with Ice in the system as well. The ice in the system can get the IC to cool the charge below ambient air temps making more power possible.

I wouldn't suggest going for this type of IC unless you only plan on Drag racing your car.

 

You have a little tank that you can open up, it's your water resevoir, you put the ice cubs in that.

 

check over on nasioc.com. I know some of the legacy owners have installed water-to-air ICs

 

i was running an air/water in my last car. I purchased a fuel cell from summit and plumbed it from the trunk up to the engine bay, giving me more volume. You have to pop open the top of the fuel cell and put ice in every time you want to run it. I also used a transmission cooler from summit for like $100, and used that as my heat exchanger. The setup works very well under the proper conditions. The effeciency is far greater than an air/air cooler, but these are only perfect condition conclusions.

If you are planning on setting up your car for the strip, i would run air/water. If you plan on driving on the street primarily, you will have a better overall result using air/air.

Take into consideration that an air/water is usually a solution for chargecooling where space is an issue. They fit into tight spots, and can be manipulated much easier than a bulky non-manipulative FMIC.

Drag racers use the air/water because you can cool charge air by more then 100% effeciency. An acquaintance of mine runs an air/water in his drag mustang, and i remember that he was achieving 160% effeciency, meaning that the charge air is cut below ambient temps, and then cut down 60%. Someone correct me if my explanation is incorrect.

The major trade off is weight. It benefits drag racers because of the cooling properties, which are greatest as soon as ice is put in. This will drag you down though, considering that water weighs 5lbs per gallon. A few gallons really kills your power/weight ratio, and you would have to really sit down and determine if the horsepower gains are worth the extra weight.

If you have any questions about setting this up in your car, i could give you some advice, but again, i would only suggest it as a method to use if you are planning on using your car as a primarily drag oriented car.

Good luck.

 

thanks guys - that really explains it well. i appreatiate the help!